Time display formats  Working with edit styles

Chapter 8: Displaying and Validating Data

About edit styles

You can define edit styles for columns. Edit styles specify how column data is presented in reports and forms. Unlike display formats, edit styles do not only affect the display of data; they also affect how you interact with the data. Once you define an edit style, it can be used by any column of the appropriate datatype in the database.

When edit styles are used

If both a display format and an edit style have been assigned to a column, the edit style is always used, with one exception. When you assign an EditMask edit style to a column, you can check the Use Format check box on the Format property page for the column to use the edit mask format when focus is on the column, and the display format mask when focus is off the column.

In the Report painter, you usually do not need to assign an edit style to a column, because the column is never editable. Assigning a display format is more appropriate. However, edit styles are used in the Report painter for some specific uses. For example, the DropDownDataWindow edit style can be assigned to a column to display a state name instead of its identifier.

An EditMask edit style is assigned automatically to some numeric and currency columns. To use a different display format for these columns, make sure you check the Use Format check box on the Format property page.

Edit styles

Table 8-8 shows the available edit styles.

Table 8-8: Edit styles

Edit style

What the edit style does

Example

Edit box (default)

Displays a value in the box

For data entry, type a value

 The example shows a city name in a box.

DropDownListBox

Displays a value from the drop-down list

For data entry, select or enter a value

 The example shows a list box with an arrow. The drop down list has four values: small, medium, large, and one size fits all.

CheckBox

Displays a check box selected or cleared

For data entry, select or clear the check box

 The example shows a square check box with the label Day Care.

RadioButtons

Displays radio buttons, one of which is selected

For data entry, select one of the radio buttons

 The example shows a pair of radio buttons, one above the other, with the labels Male and Female.

EditMask

Displays formatted data

For data entry, type a value

 The example shows the value 62000 with a dollar sign on the left, a comma between 62 and the three zeros, and two zeros after the decimal point.

DropDownDataWindow

Displays a value from a drop-down DataWindow

For data entry, select a value

 The example shows a drop down DataWindow that shows department numbers when closed and department names when the list displays.

InkEdit

On Tablet PCs, displays an InkEdit control so the user can enter data with the stylus.

For example, suppose you have a column Status that takes one of three values: the letters A, T, and L, each representing a status (Active, Terminated, or On Leave). If you assign it the RadioButton edit style, you can simply click a button instead of having to type A, T, or L. You do not have to create a validation rule to validate typed input.




Copyright © 2006. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved. Working with edit styles

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